Monday, January 5, 2009 - Page updated at 03:37 p.m.
UPDATE - 03:35 PM
Kaine says he'll limit time spent as party leader
Gov. Tim Kaine said Monday he will manage a Virginia budget crisis $3 billion and growing and head the Democratic National Committee in his spare time, largely as "an electronic gig."
UPDATE - 03:35 PM
Congressmen sound off against SEC in Madoff affair
Republican and Democratic House members said Monday that the alleged $50 billion fraud involving Wall Street figure Bernard Madoff reflects deep, systemic problems at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
UPDATE - 03:35 PM
Obama says his plan with tax cuts to get quick OK
President-elect Barack Obama plunged into rare pre-inaugural crisis talks with congressional leaders Monday, declaring the national economy was "bad and getting worse" and embracing tax cuts now expected to reach $300 billion. He predicted lawmakers would approve a mammoth revitalization package within two weeks of his taking office.
UPDATE - 03:31 PM
Diplomats seek truce as Gaza's civilian toll rises
Israel's expanding ground and air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers took a heavy civilian toll Monday, including three young brothers reported killed by a crashing shell and wounded who filled hospital corridors.
UPDATE - 03:25 PM
Franken on top in Minn. recount; Coleman to sue
A Minnesota board on Monday certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state's U.S. Senate recount over Republican Norm Coleman, whose lawyer promised a legal challenge that probably will keep the race in limbo for months.
UPDATE - 03:25 PM
Burris declares he's a senator despite controversy
Senate Democrats struggled to avert a showdown steeped in race and corruption Monday as a defiant Roland Burris declared, "I'm a United States senator" despite boiling controversy over his appointment to President-elect Barack Obama's seat in Congress.
UPDATE - 03:25 PM
Body of baby boy found in Pierce County dump site
The body of a baby boy has been found by investigators combing through 60 tons of trash at a dump site near Tacoma.
NEW - 03:19 PM
A&E Dispatch: Newly announced shows include Lil Wayne/T-Pain/Gym Class Heroes, Yes
Seattle Ticket alert: Upcoming shows include Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes and Keri Hilson (KeyArena, Sunday, Jan. 25); The Game (Showbox SoDo, Feb. 27); and the classic rock band Yes (Moore Theatre, Feb. 18).
UPDATE - 03:12 PM
Bail set at $2 million for suspects in Capitol Hill nightclub shooting
Two men arrested in connection with the fatal shooting at the Chop Suey nightclub on Seattle's Capitol Hill have been ordered held on $2 million bail each.
UPDATE - 03:09 PM
UW hires Nick Holt as defensive coordinator
Washington has hired Nick Holt as its new defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Holt had been the defensive coordinator at USC the past three years, working with Steve Sarkisian, the new Huskies coach.
UPDATE - 03:01 PM
Death certificate: Travolta son killed by seizure
Jett Travolta's body shows no sign of head trauma and his death certificate says he was killed by a "seizure," an undertaker said Monday, as the 16-year-old's celebrity parents prepared for a Florida funeral.
UPDATE - 03:00 PM
Salt, warm weather eat away at snow
Up to 6 inches of snow fell in the Seattle area Sunday night, causing slippery roads and power outages. But aggressive plowing and warming temperatures were restoring life to normal.
UPDATE - 02:56 PM
Pirates attack French vessel off Nigerian coast
Pirates hijacked a French boat and took its nine crew members hostage in the latest attack in some of the world's most dangerous waters off oil-rich southern Nigeria, the boat's owner said Monday.
UPDATE - 02:40 PM
`Marley' digs in at No. 1 spot with $24M weekend
Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson's family dog tale "Marley & Me" nuzzled its way to another top finish at the box office, pulling in $24.3 million over its second weekend.
UPDATE - 02:35 PM
Chrysler sales drop 53 pct; others not much better
Chrysler LLC's December U.S. sales plunged by more than half and it sold 30 percent fewer vehicles in 2008, dwarfing the steep declines at the other major automakers as consumers remained uncertain about the economy and their jobs.
UPDATE - 02:15 PM
Attorney for Ill. gov. wants all tapes be released
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attorney says he'll ask a federal judge to give an impeachment committee all FBI tapes of the governor's conversations, not just the four prosecutors are offering.
UPDATE - 02:05 PM
Bank robberies continue to fall in Washington state
For the second year in a row, the number of bank robberies fell in Washington, according to the FBI.
NEW - 01:53 PM
Passport cards popular for Canada/Mexico travel
The cheaper, simpler passport card is proving popular in border states, including Washington, as an alternative to a conventional passport for land and sea border crossings with Canada and Mexico.
UPDATE - 01:50 PM
Stocks close lower amid cautious trading
Caution returned to Wall Street today as investors gave back some gains from last week's rally even as they found some encouragement from...
NEW - 01:48 PM
New York's famed Rainbow Room restaurant to close
Rainbow Room restaurant in New York City to close; ritzy venue falls victim to economy and lease dispute, but bar and weekend dinner-dancing will remain
NEW - 01:47 PM
Seattle transportation director to council: Snow removal was adequate
Arterials were safe and bridges were open during December's snowstorms, Seattle Department of Transportation Director Grace Crunican told the City Council this morning.
UPDATE - 01:36 PM
8 dead, 1 hurt after chopper crashes in La. marsh
Authorities searched a southern Louisiana marsh by boat Monday for clues that might determine what caused a helicopter crash that killed eight people bound for an offshore oil platform.
UPDATE - 01:25 PM
US suggests conditions of a Gaza cease-fire
The Bush administration stuck to its defense of Israel's expanding offensive in the Gaza Strip on Monday and pushed for a cease-fire including a lasting halt to Hamas' rocket attacks on Israel and a reopening of border crossings that are Gaza's economic lifeline.
NEW - 01:17 PM
Couple found dead with crying 9-month-old daughter in Oregon home
An Oregon couple who hadn't been seen since New Year's Eve have been found dead inside their locked bedroom with their crying 9-month-old daughter, and three older children had been left out on their own.
UPDATE - 01:05 PM
NY Times debuts front-page ad; new revenue source
The New York Times, facing falling ad revenue like other newspapers, on Monday became the latest paper to run graphical advertising on its front page.
UPDATE - 01:00 PM
Taliban whopper: claim 5,220 foreign troops killed
The Taliban has long exaggerated its military successes, but its figures for 2008 may be the militia's most startling claims yet.
UPDATE - 12:46 PM
Obama picks Leon Panetta to head CIA
Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA. Panetta was a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world. An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public.
NEW - 12:40 PM
Eyman files new initiative to limit property taxes
The 2009 initiative season is officially under way. Professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman got this year's campaign started on Monday...
NEW - 12:33 PM
Boeing wins $2.1 billion order for P-8 from India
Boeing (BA) won a $2.1 billion order from India's Navy for eight of its Renton-built P-8 anti-submarine aircraft, the first overseas order for the P-8.
NEW - 12:23 PM
Design watch: If it ain't baroque, fix it
Home décor trend adds a new twist to Victorian style.
UPDATE - 12:14 PM
State Rep. Bill Grant dies of lung cancer
Rep. Bill Grant has died just one month after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Grant, 71, died at a hospital in Walla Walla on Sunday...
UPDATE - 12:06 PM
State Rep. Bill Grant dies of lung cancer
Rep. Bill Grant has died just one month after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Grant, 71, died at a hospital in Walla Walla on Sunday.
NEW - 11:58 AM
Easy ways to save money on heat and energy
Eight tips for saving money and energy when heating your home.
NEW - 11:58 AM
Rethink your space for a fresh start
Three designers offer easy, low-cost ways to give a room or your whole home a new look.
NEW - 11:40 AM
Bellevue police investigate suspicious death of woman
Bellevue police are investigating the suspicious death last weekend of a 23-year-old woman, but it could be weeks before her cause of death is known.
UPDATE - 11:32 AM
Steve Jobs has hormone imbalance, will remain CEO
Apple Inc. founder and Chief Executive Steve Jobs, a survivor of pancreatic cancer, said Monday that a hormonal imbalance is to blame for the weight loss that has prompted worries about his health.
Richardson withdrawal leaves gap in Cabinet picks
The Cabinet that President-elect Barack Obama picked on a fast track has an unexpected opening, with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama's choice for commerce secretary, withdrawing under pressure of a federal investigation into how his political donors landed a lucrative transportation contract.
Obama bids Midwest goodbye, lands in Washington
President-elect Barack Obama rejoined his family in Washington on Sunday evening after bidding a poignant farewell to his Chicago home as he begins final preparations for his Jan. 20 inauguration.
Thousands across Middle East protest Gaza attack
Thousands protesting Israel's ground offensive on Gaza converged Sunday in Beirut and Istanbul as the leaders of the only two Mideast Arab nations to sign peace treaties with Israel demanded an end to the attack.
6-8 inches of new snow forecast for Spokane
Another wintry storm spread across Washington on Sunday, promising another slam at snow-weary Spokane and dropping some snow in the Seattle area as well.
Scribner to publish first lady Laura Bush's memoir
First lady Laura Bush, among the most reserved and enigmatic public figures of recent times, will, at last, tell her story.
Northstar Neuroscience will close, distribute cash to stockholders
Northstar Neuroscience said Monday it plans to lay off most of the Seattle medical device company's remaining employees and liquidate the business, likely distributing tens of millions in cash to stockholders.
Man charged with manslaughter in NY crane collapse
The contractor that raised the crane that toppled in midtown Manhattan last year and killed seven people was charged Monday with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for failing to stabilize it, prosecutors said.
Bush family's 18-year-old cat dies
The first family leaving the White House this month will be without one of its longtime members: the Bush family's 18-year-old cat has died.
Blast hits British Columbia natural gas facility
An explosion at a natural gas facility in northeastern British Columbia forced the site to shut down, in what appeared to be the fourth attack in four months on one of Canada's largest energy companies.
Ex-Boeing worker gets 5 months in prison for Chinook damage
A former Boeing employee will spend five months in prison and five months in home confinement for vandalizing a $24 million military helicopter...
US inaugurates $700 million embassy in Iraq
The United States inaugurated its largest embassy ever on Monday, a fortress-like compound in the heart of the Green Zone - and the most visible sign of what U.S. officials call a new chapter in relations between America and a more sovereign Iraq.
China targets Google in pornography crackdown
China warned Google and other popular Web portals Monday that they must do more to block pornographic material from reaching Chinese users, the latest in a series of government crackdowns targeting Internet content.
India gives Pakistan evidence over Mumbai attacks
India handed Pakistan detailed evidence on the Mumbai attacks on Monday that included information on interrogations, weapons, and data gleaned from satellite phones that officials said proved Pakistani "elements" were behind the deadly siege.
Concerns of civilian deaths rise in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan forces overran another village Monday and moved closer to seizing a strategic base from the Tamil Tigers, but concerns are mounting for the hundreds of thousands of civilians living in the rebels' shrinking territory.
Kids alone for days, parents dead in locked room
A couple who hadn't been seen since New Year's Eve have been found dead inside their locked bedroom with their crying 9-month-old daughter in an apparent murder-suicide. Three older children had been left out on their own.
Bush OKs airlift of equipment to aid Darfur peace
President George W. Bush announced on Monday the airlift of equipment and vehicles for the humanitarian effort in Darfur, the violence-plagued western Sudan region where millions of civilians have been driven from their homes.
More heavy snow for Washington Cascades
The National Weather Service says more heavy snow is falling in the mountains of Washington.
Flights canceled, Eiffel Tower closed as snowstorm sweeps France, Germany
Europe snowstorm forces closure of Eiffel Tower in Paris and flight, highway problems in France and Germany
Airlines sue over new rules on crew rest
Some U.S. airlines sue FAA over stronger rules on crew rest for long international flights
Calif. court sides with US church over property
The state's high court has prohibited three Southern California parishes who left the U.S. Episcopal Church over its ordination of gay ministers from retaining ownership of their church buildings and property.
Flexible travelers will get good deals on airfares this year
Travelers can find good deals on airfares and hotels in 2009; the key is staying flexible and monitoring prices so you can grab bargains
Port Angeles girl accused of dumping baby in trash
Port Angeles police and State Patrol crime lab workers plan to sift through 60 tons of trash, looking for the body of a baby they say was thrown away.
Premium tuna fetches $100,000 in Tokyo auction
Two sushi bar owners paid more than $100,000 for a Japanese bluefin tuna at a Tokyo fish auction Monday, several times the average price and the highest in nearly a decade, market officials said.
Blast forces shutdown of British Columbia pipeline
An explosion at a natural gas facility in northeastern British Columbia forced the site to shut down, in what appeared to be the fourth attack in four months on one of Canada's largest energy companies.
Weyerhaeuser names Williamson as new non-executive chairman
Weyerhaeuser's board elected Charles Williamson as non-executive chairman to replace Steven Rogel, who will retire April 15.
Police nab suspects in convenience store robberies
Three members of a suspected armed-robbery ring that has targeted convenience stores over the last month have been arrested. Since early December, a...
Bon Jovi to sing at NYC Hillary Clinton fundraiser
The final note of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign may very well be sung by Jon Bon Jovi.
Long-term travel is way of life for "vagabonding" writer
Travel writer Rolf Potts reflects on life on the road in the Internet age
Unruly passenger forces Russia-U.S. flight to land in Canada
Delta flight from Moscow to Atlanta makes unscheduled stop in Canada to hand unruly passenger over to police
Obama, Richardson statements on withdrawal
Statements from President-elect Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that were released Sunday by Obama's transition office on Richardson's decision to withdraw as Obama's nominee to be commerce secretary:
One killed, two injured in Seattle nightclub shooting
A man was shot and killed and two others were injured at the Chop Suey nightclub on Seattle's Capitol Hill early Sunday, a police spokesman...
Series of quakes hit eastern Indonesia, killing 1
A series of powerful earthquakes killed a 10-year-old girl and seriously injured dozens in remote eastern Indonesia, briefly triggering fears of another tsunami in a country still recovering from 2004's deadly waves.
Conservationists want to craft a deal to buy and preserve 3,000 acres of roadless, old-growth forests and river shores before the area is clear-cut.
Does convention center really need to grow again?
Backers of Seattle's convention center say it needs a $766 million expansion to lure more free-spending conventioneers downtown. But the Washington State Convention & Trade Center's track record — and the struggles of convention centers elsewhere — raise questions about the wisdom of expansion.
Yard-waste service to resume in Seattle
Yard-waste service in Seattle — including Christmas-tree pickup — will resume today on a normal schedule for residential customers. Extra yard waste will be collected at no extra charge through Jan. 16.
Beacon Hill woman devoted to helping immigrant neighbors master English
So many immigrants have moved into Dolores Veliz's Beacon Hill neighborhood that she began offering free English classes so she'd be able to communicate with her neighbors.
Ecology Department uses online campaign to help water quality
Washington state hopes a new online campaign will prompt residents to change their habits to help clean up local waterways.
King County to choose election director in first all-mail vote
For the first time in King County, all registered voters will receive ballots by mail in a countywide election Feb. 3 to choose an elections director.
Memorial service held for 8 snowmobilers who died in B.C. avalanches
Thousands of people gathered in Sparwood, B.C., Sunday to bid farewell to eight local snowmobilers who died last weekend in a string of avalanches.
Snow expected to turn to rain by morning commute
The snow that fell in the Seattle area Sunday night was expected to turn to rain overnight, making today's commute on main roads a bit messy but not that slippery.
Conservancy buys 146 acres for reserve
The Nature Conservancy has bought 146 acres, including tidelands, at Lily Point and will turn over the land to Whatcom County as part of the new Lily Point Marine Reserve.
Winds disrupt ferry service between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island
Ferry service between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island has been shut down because of high winds.
UW Football | Steve Sarkisian renews his pursuit of USC's Nick Holt
New UW coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed Sunday night that he is talking with USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt about joining the Huskies.
Portland handles Seattle U. men
Robin Smuelders had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Portland to a 71-67 victory over Seattle University on Sunday. Smuelders made 7 of...
Steve Kelley
Clock is ticking for city's NBA hopes
What happened to the desire to remodel KeyArena? What happened to the push for another NBA team? Where is Seattle's civic pride?
Sideline Chatter
They just couldn't avoid that trip wire
Step aside, SI cover jinx, and make room for AP. Associated Press award winners Mike Smith of the Falcons (coach of the year), Peyton Manning...
Bowl Notebook | Motivation might hold key to Fiesta
Texas coach Mack Brown has a theory about bowl games. "If the teams are fairly even, the team that wants to be there the most and has the...
Jacob DeSerres, T-birds win 3-1
Goalie Jacob DeSerres made 33 saves on 34 shots to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Kamloops...
NBA Notebook | Celtics willing to add Stephon Marbury
The Boston Celtics are aware of Stephon Marbury's reputation. They're also aware they may need more depth to win another title. So if general manager...
NFL | Baltimore rattles Miami in 27-9 wild-card victory
/ MIAMI — Linebacker Joey Porter was resorting to trickery so the tears wouldn't flow. Quarterback Chad Pennington sat on his stool...
NFL | Eagles spoil Vikings' first home playoff game in 8 years
Donovan McNabb repeatedly sidestepped the Minnesota rush and sent the Eagles to a 26-14 playoff win after being all but forgotten as a postseason contender just one month earlier.
Men's College Basketball | Boston College shocks N. Carolina
Tyrese Rice came through with another big game against North Carolina, one that ended all the talk of a perfect season for the top-ranked...
NFL Notebook | Dolphins owner says Bill Parcells staying put
Bill Parcells is staying with the Miami Dolphins, owner Wayne Huizenga said. After the team's playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday...
Winter Sports | Bremerton bobsledder Bree Schaaf wins U.S. title
Bree Schaaf of Bremerton won the women's title at the U.S. Bobsled National Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Sunday and qualified...
Women's College Basketball | Ashley Walker's layup lifts No. 13 Cal to victory
Ashley Walker's layup with 1. 8 seconds left gave 13th-ranked California a 54-53 victory over Arizona State on Sunday. Dymond Simon made a...
Briefs | Boxing: Women's champion Jisselle Salandy dies after car wreck
Boxing Salandy dies of injuries from crash in Trinidad: Champion Jisselle Salandy died Sunday of injuries suffered in a car crash on the...
People in Sports | Roger Federer
Roger Federer: The 13-time Grand Slam winner, who opens his ATP Tour season this week at the Qatar Open, isn't shy about his New Year's...
Community sports & recreation datebook
professional lessons, camps and coaches clinics are being offered by Steve Goucher and the Jazz staff. Details: Steve Goucher at 206-230-9011...
Playoffs | NFC: Arizona advances with 30-24 win over Atlanta
The Arizona Cardinals were no playoff pretenders. Kurt Warner opened with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald and connected with...
Steve Ballmer's rock-star moment as CES keynote
After keeping Microsoft on center stage at the annual gathering of all things silicon and circuitry for more than a decade, Gates said goodbye to CES last year. But Microsoft has managed to hold on to the coveted preshow keynote address at CES.
Vacancies in office buildings rise faster
Every major city in the U.S. is seeing office-building vacancies top 10 percent, creating another big problem for already hurting lenders.
Appointments, promotions and awards in the business community.
16 Iranians among 40 killed in suicide blast at Iraq shrine
At least 40 people, 16 of them Iranian pilgrims, were killed and 72 were wounded Sunday in a suicide bombing in Baghdad at the doorstep of one of Iraq's holiest Shiite shrines, government and hospital officials said.
Citing investigation, Richardson withdraws as Cabinet nominee
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name from nomination as commerce secretary Sunday, saying a federal probe that has reached into his office could last months and was certain to bog down his confirmation.
U.S. cuts back on sedating deportees with Haldol
Federal immigration officials, over the past year, have dramatically curtailed the controversial practice of sedating deportees with powerful anti-psychotic medication.
Israeli troops cut Gaza in two
Israeli troops and tanks, protected by heavy air, sea and artillery fire, sliced through the center of Gaza on Sunday, taking control of rocket-launching areas and surrounding the main city, as their government rebuffed diplomatic efforts to end the nine-day assault.
Shiites gaining clout in Afghanistan
Since the departure of the Taliban, which forcibly suppressed Shiism as un-Islamic, tens of thousands of Shiites have returned from exile in next-door Iran, many bringing professional skills and modernized views.
Critics rip Newark barbed-wire ban
Some business owners in this crime-plagued city say recent enforcement of a decades-old ordinance banning some types of barbed and razor wire is making Newark more attractive to thieves.
Drug charges against Levi Johnston's mother allegedly delayed
An Alaska drug investigator and the union representing Alaska State Troopers are alleging political meddling in the Sherry Johnston drug case, including a delay in serving the search warrant until after the November election.
What is the elevation of the South Pole?
A house fire killed eight people, including children, early Sunday morning in upstate New York.
Conn. man's last lotto ticket wins $10M for widow
On the day that Donald Peters died, he unknowingly provided financial security for his wife of 59 years and their family.
Female bomber at Shiite shrine in Baghdad kills 38
A woman hiding among Iranian pilgrims with a bomb strapped under her black robe killed more than three dozen people Sunday outside a Baghdad mosque during ceremonies commemorating the death of one of Shiite Islam's most revered saints.
Editorial
Weak cellphone law puts drivers off the hook
A weak-willed law against driving with a handheld cellphone has led to a weak response from the state's drivers. lawmakers they should collect enough votes to beef up the law.
Editorial
China's milk scandal is a political temblor
China's milk scandal horrifies the public and undermines the authority of a one-party system with a hand in everything.
David Sirota / Syndicated columnist
New Deal gets a raw deal when conservatives rap FDR
The right blames the short-lived recession in a year straddling 1937 and 1938 on FDR's New Deal policies. But that was four years into Roosevelt's term — four years marked by spectacular economic growth. The fleeting economic decline happened not because of the New Deal's spending programs, but because Roosevelt momentarily listened to conservatives and backed off them.
Nicholas D. Kristof / Syndicated Columnist
Sex trafficking: the evil behind the forced smiles
Sex trafficking — and the horrific abuses spawned by the trade in mostly teenage girls throughout much of the developing world — is truly the 21st century's version of slavery. Many of these modern slaves will die of AIDS by their late 20s.
"Gossip Girl" is a Monday TV pick
File this series under "guilty pleasure. " The wealthy New York high-schoolers are back with new episodes. Tonight features a grieving Chuck...
"Silent Movie Mondays" at the Paramount kick off with 1923's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
It's open for debate whether the "Saw" oeuvre will be remembered as a horror classic. For a vintage take on the genre, check out "Silent...
that's what former Seattleite Melissa Rossi offers in her popular series of books, "What Every American Should Know ... " And this time...
Author Mo Yan ("Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out") at Seattle Central Library
Prize-winning Chinese author Mo Yan reads from his work and discusses his career
Inside Boeing, Starbucks and your own skin
Books on Boeing, Starbucks, surgery-free makeovers — and a pilgrimage to Zen sites in China.
The top tours of 2008 include some with Seattle-area stops
Madonna, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen had some of the top-grossing tours of 2008.
Take the Stock Market into your own hands with "Pit"
This year I've stumbled across several enthusiasts of "Pit," a card game based on the commodities market. I discovered the lightning-paced...
8 cleaning tips for homes that include a pet
Cleaning tips for households that include a pet
See the Northwest designer's unique reclaimed-wood creations at Capitol Hill's Retrofit Home.
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